Combined parallel ruler, section-liner, and protractor.



E. G. HOLMES.

COMBINED PARALLEL RULER, SECTION LINER, AND PROTRAOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1 Patented June 10, 1913.

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E. c. HOLMES. COMBINED PARALLEL RULER, SECTION LINER, AND PROTBAGTOB.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1912.

Patented June 10, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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E. G. HOLMES.

COMBINED PARALLEL RULLR, SECTION LINER, AND PROTRAGTOR.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 10, 1912.

1,064,222. Patented June 10, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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' rinrrnp STATES PATENT GFFIGE.

EUGENE C. HOLMES, OF JONESVILLE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 LUTHER M. CARMICAL, OF JONESVILLE, VIRGINIA.

COMBINED PARALLEL RULER, SECTION-LINER, AND PROTRACTOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE C. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jonesville, in the county of Lee and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Parallel Rulers, Section-Liners, and Protractors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled 1n the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to drafting instruments, and it more particularly relates to a combined parallel ruler, section liner and protractor. V

An object of the invention is to provide a drafting instrument of this character which is designed for accurately spacing straight and parallel lines.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an improved drafting instrument which may be rolled upon the surface of drafting paper, in a perfectly straight line.

A further object of the invention is to provide an instrument of this character which may be employed in connection with one or more fixed elements and repeatedly rolled therefrom, so as to register with any predetermined line.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an instrument of this character which may be easily rolled over the surface of drawing paper, and which may be quickly and conveniently anchored or secured against rolling motion, and,

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved instrument of this character having a gage by which the distance between parallel lines may be accurately regulated.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter made clearly apparent in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this application, Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form and embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional detail view of the actuating mechanism for the section-liner carriage. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional View, taken on line of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmental plan view of a somewhat modified Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 10, 1912.

Patented June 10, 1913. Serial No. 702,799.

form of my invention. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the carriage employed in this modified form. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through a slightly modified form of the carriage. Fig. 8 is an enlarged end elevation View of the construction shown in Fig. 5, the carriage and its adjuncts being removed. Fig. 9 is a detail View, in elevation, of a sleeve which constitutes the element shown in Fig. 7, and, Fig. 10 is a fragmental portion of another modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the principal element or base 1 comprises a fiat, elongated and rectangular plate onto which is pivoted a lever-bar 2 extending over approximately the full length of the base 1. The levers or arms 3, of the lever-bar 2, extend at right angles to said bar and are pivoted at 4 to posts 5, respectively; said post being secured to the base 1. The arms are apertured at 6, for the reception of screws 7, which constitute the pivots on which the shaft 8 is adapted to rotate, said shaft carrying a pair of rollers 9, adjacent to its respective ends, the base 1 being provided with an aperture 10, into which the roller 9 extends and through which said roller is adapted to extend when the lever 2 is operated for that purpose. A post 11 is secured on the base 1, and a springpressed latch 12 is pivoted at 13 to said post, said latch being adapted to engage the top of the bar 2, for holding it down, a spring 14 being seated on the base 1 and pressing upwardly against an arm 15, for causing the latch to engage with the bar 2, when it is pressed down, and for holding said bar and latch in engagement. A key or button 16 is provided on the latch, for releasing the engagement thereof with the bar 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, it being assumed that the base 1 is resting on a sheet of paper, the roller 9 is out of contact with the paper. However, if the lever 2 were pushed down into engagement with the latch, the roller 9 would extend down a short distance through the base 1, thereby coming into contact with the paper and raising the base 1 out of contact therewith, provided that the base is retained in perfect horizontal position. However, on account of the'excess of weight and of leverage being on the fro-ntside of the ruler 9, the base 1 would be inclined. toward the front; that is, toward the right hand in Fig. 2. In order to overcome this tendency and thereby retain the base in perfect parallel relation with the paper, I provide a bracket 17 which is secured to the base 1 and extends rearwardly therefrom; said bracket being provided with a slot 18, for the reception of a stud 19, which extends downwardly from a weight 20. The bracket is also provided with a flange 21 which extends down to the bottom surface of the base 1. The weight 20, when in the position shown, is insufficient to counterbalance the weight of the front elements of the instrlr ment, but when said weight is moved to the rear end of the slot 18, said front elements are counterbalanced, or slightly over-balaneed, so that they are raised out of contact with the paper, thereby avoiding blotting or smearing of the ink on the drawings. The brackets 22 are secured to the respective end portions of the base 1, said brackets being apertured and screw-threaded at 23, for the reception of thumb-screws 2%. The guide rod or carriage-track 25 has its end portions apertured and screw-threaded for the reception of set-screws or thumb-screws 24., which are tightly fitted into the apertures of the rod 25 and the brackets 22, and are adapted to contact with the base 1, at 20, and by this means, the rod 25, while being removable, may be securely and accurately fitted onto the brackets, in perfect parallel relation to the shaft 8. The rod 25 is also in parallel relation to the longitudinal edges of the base, so that when it is desirable to use this instrument as a parallel ruler only, the rod 25 and its adjuncts may be readily and easily removed, by turning the screws 24 until their engagement with the brackets 22 is released, whereupon the front edge 27 of the base, may be used as a straight-edge or guide for a drawing pen or pencil. However, when it is desired to use this instrument as a combined instrument, the rod 25 is secured in place, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a sectionliner attachment being carried thereby and by the base 1. Said sectionliner attachment comprises a carriage 28, slidably seated upon the rod 25 and having an arm 29 upon which a protractor 30 is pivotally secured at 31. Said pro-tractor is provided with an arm 32, extending tangentially from the arc thereof, the arm 32 having a branch arm 33 extending at right angles thereto. The arms 32 and 33 are each provided with a keyhole aperture 3%., and with a bifurcated end, the furcations 35 of which embrace the vertical sides of the head of the screw 36, carried by a straight-edge or ruler 37. The head of each screw 36 is eccentric to the shank thereof, and each of the eccentric heads is apertured and screw thumb-screw threaded for the reception of a set-screw 38, and it is obvious that when the eccentric head of the screw 36 is rotated, the ruler 37 is moved thereby with relation to the arm 32 or 33, as the case may be.

hen the protractor is at Zero, as shown at 39, in Fig. 1, one of the rulers 37 should be exactly parallel with the rod 25 and the QC ge 37, while the other of said rulers should be exactly at right angles to the said rod and edge, and it is the purpose of these eccentric screw-heads to co -act with the pivotal members 4:0 and with the furcations 35 for properly adjusting the rulers 37. lVhen the protractor is swung out of the zero position into the other extreme position thereof, the graduation 41 will register with the zero mark on the arm 29, and the rulers 37 will be changed from their parallel and perpendicular positions to perpendicular and parallel positions, respectively, and it is obvious that said rulers may be moved to any position intermediate of said extreme position and ZGlO position. The arm has a spring clamp 42 secured thereto, at 43 and 141, the member 44 comprising a thumb-screw which may be tightened for clamping the pro tractor to the arm 29, or may be loosened when it is desired to adjust the protractor.

The carriage 28, is provided with bifurcated and apertured end portions which comprise vertical flanges or standards 45, said carriage being slidably seated upon the rod 25, said rod extending between the members 4:5 and through the apertures 16; said apertures comprising the hearings on which the carriage slides on the rod 25. The carriage is preferably made of somewhat springy material, so that the standards 45 are spring-pressed against the sides of the rod thereby assuring a perfectly snug fit, and preventing lost motion in consequence of wear between the rod and springs.

The carriage is provided with a rear- *ardly extending arm 1-6 and with a vertically extending lug 41-7. A carriage-actuab ing lever 48 is pivoted at- 45) to the lug 4-7, a pusher 50 being pivoted at 51 to the lever d8,

said lever being provided with a key or button 52, adapted to be pressed by a finger of an operator. A toothed rack 53, preferably saw-toothed, may be either secured on or formed on the base 1. 1n the present illustration the rack 53 formed on a plate 5 1, secured at to the base 1. The pusher 50 is adapted to engage with the teeth of the rack when the key 52 is pressed, and it is obvious that when the key is pressed, the lower end of the pusher will engage with one of the rack teeth, (see Fig 3) and cause the carriage 28 to be moved leftward, the pusher 50 having relative movement in the slot 56. A stop member or pusher-stop is adjustably secured on the arm M3, by means of a 58, and by adjusting the pusher-stop, the travel of the pusher in the slot may be regulated so that when the pusher returns to the position shown in Fig. 3, it will have passed over one or several teeth of the rack 53, according to the adjustment of said pusher-stop. The lower end of the pusher is provided with a shoulder 59, which contacts with an edge of the arm 46, for limiting the upward movement of the pusher, said upward movement being effected by means of an L-shaped spring 60, secured at 61 to the carriage 28.

The pressure of the members 45 on the rod 25 provides sufficient friction between the rod and carriage to prevent the latter from being accidentally moved by the pressure of the pen or pencil against the ruler 37 but, when it is desired to move the carriage along the rod 25, the base may be steadied wit-h one hand while the knob 62 may be grasped with the other hand, and the carriage thereby moved.

The base 1 is preferably made of comparatively heavy material, so that it will not be easily disarranged, relative to the paper, by accident; and, to auxiliate the weight and frictional contact of the base, I have provided a pair of pins 63, each having a piercing point which extends slightly below the base 1, each pin being seated in an apertured post 64, and adapted to be secured in adjusted position by means of a set-screw 65. These pins are located on the vertical plane of the axis of the shaft 8, so that when the lever-bar or lifter-bar 2 is pressed down, and the base 1 is raised thereby, through the medium of the rollers 9, the pins 63 are raised out of engagement with the paper, and engagement thereof with the paper is impossible while the lifter-bar is held down. lVhile in this raised position, the instrument may be rolled forward or backward, on the rollers 9, and this may be accomplished either by turning the rod 8 by hand through the instrumentality of the roller handle 66, or by means of a ratchet mechanism or roller actuating mechanism which comprises an actuating lever 67 having a key or button 68 thereon, said button preferably comprising a knurled screw-head formed on an adjusting screw 69. The lever 67 is pivotally seated upon the shaft 8 and is provided with a pawl 7 0, pivoted at 71 to said lever 67. The pawl 7 0 is adapted for engagement with the teeth or corrugations 9 of the rollers 9; so that, when the key 68 is pressed, the pawl 7 0 causes the rollers 9 to rotate, thereby moving the base 1 backward. A spring 72 is seated between the base 1 and the lever 67 for causing said lever to return to its normal position. Any proper means, such for instance as a post 73, may be employed for limiting the movement of the lever 67, in one direction, the screw 69 being secured to the rear end of the lever 67 for limiting the movement of the lever 67 in the opposite direction.

It is sometimes desirable to remove the instrument from the paper and afterward place it in exactly the same position. In order to do this, I have provided a pair of adjustable station-plates 74 and 7 5, secured on the base 1 by means of thumb-screws 76. The station-plate 74 has a V-shaped notch 7 7 which is adapted to engage with a stationpin (not shown), which may be located at any suitable point near the edge of a drawing board (not shown) on which the instrument is to be operated.

' In operation, the starting point of the instrument is located, and the instrument set accordingly; and the instrument is then rolled back from said starting point to a position near the edge of the board; whereupon, a pin or tack is inserted in the board at a point coinciding with the apex of the notch 77. A second pin is then inserted in the board and in contact with the rear edge of the plate 75. If the pins are found to be inaccurately located, for any reason, the plates 74 and 75 may then be adjusted so as to overcome this inaccuracy. It is obvious, that by seating the instrument against the station pins, as described, the instrument may be repeatedly and quickly located at any desired position on the drawing board, the pawl being released by the operator when the instrument is rolled forward.

In lieu of the single and relatively broad base 1, I may provide a narrow base 1 and in connection with this base I provide the roller 8 having enlarged and corrugated ends 9 In this form of construction, the lifter-bar 2 is adapted to be raised and lowered, the latch 12 and its adjunct being the same as described for Fig. l. The arms 3 of the lifter-bar are pivoted at 4 to a pair of carrier-arms 33*, secured to the base 1 and each having an apertured end adapted to receive a thumb-screw 80. This thumbscrew extends through a wheel 81 and into an apertured end of a carriage-track or guide-rod 82 having teeth 83. The thumbscrew 80 may have threaded engagement either with the arm 3 or with the rod 82; in either case providing a pivotal connection between said arm and said rod, and also providing a bearing upon which the wheel 81 rotates. A base-plate or supplemental base 84 is provided with vertical and apertured flanges 85, in the apertures of which the ends of the rod 42 are snugly seated. In this construction, I have eliminated the ratchet mechanism for engaging the corrugations 9; but it is obvious that any proper mechanical means may be employed for this purpose. However, this modified form of drafting instrument may be rolled back and forth upon the paper, by the operator pressing his hand upon the roller 8 and pushing or pulling it horizontally at right angles to the axis of said roller. In lieu of the pins 63 in Fig. 1, I have provided for anchoring this form .of instrument by means of the weighty roller 8. That is, the weight of the roller is made to auxiliate the weight of the base a and of the supplemental base 84:. This is accomplished by allowing the base and roller to rest upon the paper, the roller being frictionally secured to the arms 3, thereby preventing rotation of the roller, so that the instrument will remain stationary, under ordinary conditions, while the roller is thus secured against rotation. In order to frictionally secure the roller 8*, I have provided said roller at each end with a shouldered boss, as indicated at 86 in Fig. 5, said boss being centrally apertured and screw-threaded for the reception of a shoul dered thumb-screw 87. IVhen the thumbscrews 87 are tightened, the arms 3 are clamped between the shoulders of the bosses and of the screws 87, thereby causing frictional contact of the bosses and arms 3, for frictionally securing the roller as described. The protractor and its adjuncts are the same, in this construction, as in Fig. 1. The carriage, however, is somewhat different. This carriage comprises a main body portion 88 having apertured vertical flanges 89 through which the rod 82 extends, said carriage being slid-able on the rod 82 and being provided with a vertical standard 90, having an actuating lever 91 pivoted thereto at 92, said lever being provided with a key 93 and having a pusher 9-l pivoted thereto at 95. Said pusher is adapted to engage the teeth 83 for causing the carriage to move along the rod 82 when the key 93 is pushed down. A spring 96 is secured on the lug or standard 90 and contacts with the underside of the le ver 91 for returning the lever to its normal position. The standard 90 is movably secured to the carriage 88 through the medium of a horizontal plate 97 on which the standard is formed, said plate being apertured and screw-threaded for the reception of SCI'BWS 98 which extend through a slot 99 in the carriage 88, and it is obvious that when the screws 98 are loosened the plate 97 may be adjusted longitudinally of the carriage.

' The plate 97 has a sleeve 100; said sleeve being provided with a longitudinal slot 101 through which the pusher 94 extends and by which the pusher is properly guided into enward (see Fig. 7) so as to release the engagement of the lug 10stwith the notch 103, the sleeve 102 could be rotated so as to cause the lug 104. to engage one of the other notches 103. If the gage lug is in the longest notch, the sleeve 102 is located at its extreme position to the right, and the pusher 94: is then capable of making its longest stroke within the slot 101, thereby passing over several of the teeth 83 on its return stroke. However, if the shortest of the notches 103 is caused to engage the lug 104i, the sleeve 102 is thereby located farther toward the left, so that the pusher 94: contacts with the left end of the sleeve 102 after moving the carriage a distance equal to the length of one tooth 83, whereupon the pusher is stopped by the end of the sleeve 102. It will be seen, therefore, that the work of the pusher and the movement of the carriage may be quickly, easily and accurately regulated by means of this sleeve 103 and lug 104. In this construction (see Fig. 7) the flanges 89 are not bifurcated, it being understood that any proper means may be employed in connection there-,

with for performing the functions ascribed for the bifurcated ends of the carriage 28, as shown in Fig. 1. It is obvious that when the lifter-bar is out of engagement with the latch 12, the corrugated portions 9 of the roller and the wheels 81 are in contact with the drawing paper, and the base 1 is also resting upon the paper; but when the lifterbar is engaged by the latch 12, said bar is thereby held down, the wheel 81 or the base 1, or both, being raised off of the paper, so that the greater part of the weight rests upon the roller ends 9, and the instrument may then be freely rolled across the paper, as previously explained.

In the modified form suggested in Fig. 10, the roller 8 is provided with enlarged corrugated ends 9; the rod 82 and supple mental base 84 being substantially the same as described and shown in Fig. 5. The base 1 is, however, dispensed with, as well as the raising and lowering mechanism for the roller, said roller resting continually upon the drawing paper. The boss 86 extends into an aperture 105 of a link or bearing element 106, said link being also provided with an aperture 107, into which a boss 108 of the rod 82 extends. The bosses 8G and 108 are apertured and screw-threaded for the reception of thumb-screws 109 and 110, respectively, said thumb-screws being shouldered at 111 and 112, respectively, said shoulders being normally in contact with the links 106. A slight clearance is provided between the shoulders of the thumb-screws and the ends of the bosses, as indicated at 113 and 114. It will be seen, therefore, that when the screws 109 and 110 are loosened, the roller 8 and wheels 81 may be easily rolled upon the drawing paper, but when the thumb-screws are tightened, the frictional contact of the shoulders 111 and 112 and of the roller and wheels, respectively, secures the said roller and wheels in frictional engagement with the link 106, thereby preventing the roller and wheels from being easily turned. In this form of constrution, the member 8 L constitutes the straight edge or ruler in lieu of the edge 27.

It is to be understood that the carriage illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7 or any other proper form of carriage may be fitted on the rod 82, in the last described modification of my invention; or, when desirable, the carriage and its adjuncts may be omitted or removed, as previously described for the carriage illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that I have provided a drawing instrument which is fully capable of attaining the foregoing objects, and in a thoroughly practical and efficient manner.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction, combination and arrangement of elements, as described and illustrated, but my invention may only be limited by a reasonable interpretation of the claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a drafting instrument, a roller having enlarged corrugated ends adapted to contact with a sheet of drawing paper, a straight edge associated with the roller and adapted to be moved thereby when the roller is rolled, a lever pivoted concentrically with the roller and carrying a pawl in operative relation with the corrugations of one end of the roller for intermittently rotating the roller on its axis when the lever is operated, and means for regulating the swing of the lever, whereby the straight edge may be moved an equal distance by each succeeding movement of the lever.

2. In a drafting instrument, a base, a roller rotatably connected with the base, a lifter-bar connected with the roller and with the base and adapted to co-act with the roller for lifting the base, a latch co-acting with the lifter bar for retaining the base in lifted position, and a guiding means for a pen or pencil associated with the base and roller.

8. In a drafting instrument, a base, a roller associated with the base, a lifting-bar having arms pivotally connected with the base and said roller being pivotally connected to the lifting-bar and thereby adaptt ed to be raised or lowered relative to the base, and a spring-pressed latch for engaging the lifting-bar for the purpose specified.

a. In a drafting instrument, a base, a roller operatively connected with the base and adapted to be operated for moving the base across a sheet of drawing paper, said base having an adjustably mounted stationplate at each end, for the purpose specified.

5. In a drafting instrument, a base, a roller operatively connected with the base and adapted to be operated for moving the base across a sheet of drawing paper, said base having an adjustably mounted stationplate at each end, one of said station-plates having a Vshaped notch whereby the base may be repeatedly and accurately started from a given station.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EUGENE C. HOLMES. Witnesses C. E. GOU'K, M. E. FLANARY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

I Washington, I). G. 

